Fence-post foundation.



M. J. GREGORY. FENCE POST FOUNDATION. urmquzon FILED APR-.8, 910.

, 994,742. Patented J1me 13,1911.

UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

MARSHAL J'. GREGORY, 0F SOUR LAKE, TEXAS.

FENCE-POST FOUNDATION.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11113 13 1911 Application filed April 8, 1910.

Serial No. 554,149.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARSHAL J. GREG- DRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sour Lake, in the county of Hardin and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Fence-Post Foundation, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in fence post foundations though applicable to foundations for other types of supports than fence posts, and its object is to provide a support which may be readily introduced into the ground and is at the same time rigid and indestructible under the action of the elements.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in*which drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a fence with the invention incorporated. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal diametric section of a slightly modified form of the fence post foundation with a post in position. Fig. 3

is a section upon the line AB of Fig." 2;

but on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is an end View of the fence post foundation as viewed from below.i Fig. 5 is a section on the line CW1).

of Fig- 2. Fig. 6 is a view similarto that of Fig. 2 but with the post omitted, the section being at right angles to that of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a foundation structure 1 which may be made of glass or cement or other like resistant material, or may even be made of metal, but in the latter case it is advisable to protect the foundation structure from oxidizing or other effects. The foundation 1 is provided with an upper or head end 2 preferably though not necessarily circular in outline and preferably, though not necessarily crowned in convex form.

Considering the foundation structure as upright, which is the position it occupies in the ground,s,the head portion 2 has a downward extension 3 and extending through the head portion and into the extension 3 is a central passage 4 open at the u per end and closed at the lower end, except for drainage passages 5 leading from the interior of the passage to the exterior of the extension The passage 4 is preferably though not necessarily circular in cross section and on one side has a radial extension or groove 6 tially the same diameter throughout length, this being indicated in Fig. 1. Or

co-extensive in length with the passage 4 and opening throughthe head 2. At the lower end of the passage 4 the extension 3 is formed with a recess 7 concentric with the passage 4 and leading from the passage 6. The passage 4 is designed to recelve a post 8 formed at the lower end with a radial tongue 9 adapted to the passagefi and when the post 8 is seated in the passage or socket 4, a turn of the post 8 on its longitudinal axis will carry the tongue 9 into the concentric or segmental passage 7 thus looking the post against withdrawal from the foundation member 1. formed with a series of perforations 10 or may carry suitable fastening means for strands 11, see Fig. 1, designed to be used in conjunction with the posts to constitute a fence.

For ed on the extension 3 below the head 2 are radial ribs 12 continued beyond the ex tension 3 and tapering in the direction of their length until they terminate in comparatively sharp edges at the bottom of the foundation structure 1. These ribs or webs 12 on diametrically opposite sides of the extension 3 may have their edges parallel so that the foundation structure is of substanits the ribs or webs 12 may taper both in thickness and in direction of their length as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6. The post foundation may be readily introduced into the ground by the use of a suitable tool. The head 2 has a lateral extent as great as that of the ribs 12 and its lower surface defines a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post so as to engage the surface of the ground and prevent too great insertion of the foundation into the ground.

The ribs or webs 12 which may either be four in number as shown or three in number in equidistant relation, or of any other suitable number, resist efiectively any lateral -strains put upon the post 8 no matter in what direction such lateral strain may be applied. The taper form of the ribs or webs 12 whether this taper be considered with relation to the thickness of the web or the length of the web is not sufficient to cause any tendency of the foundation structure to rise out of the ground on the application of lateral pressure to the post 8. The strands 11 may be arranged in any appropriate manner to form a ence in (2011111110131011 the higher level to a higher copies 9! this patenj; may be obtained :01-

With the posts 8, and bracing strands 15 are employed as needed.

Where a post foundation 1 with a post seated therein is located at a lower level than adjacent post foundations there Will b6 a tenden y t lift the lowerm s post; foundatlon to an approach to the level of the ad; acent higher post foundations. To overcome this lifting tendency stay rods or strands 16 may extend from the bases of the nets at .oin of the 9st ldcated at the lower level, and to furher brace the structure the post located at the lower level may be longer, as indicated at 8' and other stay rods ofstrands 17 may conneet the upper ends of the posts together as illustrated in Fig, 1, i

The foundation member 1 for the post Ina? be cast in one piece from suitable m'aterja capable of being reduced to a flowab'le sar nes, he P ssa So 4 h e keys-a3 6 an seg ntal leek ng Po t on 7 te m at the time: d m itf n designed to n c ssarily ck. the st 8 again t minera at will, the k yway ee not be filled wit s ahng ma erial and any Wa er which may find its Way into the socket 4; thrgngh the pas age or keyway 6 will hav L ila ra -ions 5 w 911 act drainage pass ges for he 5 91M? Not ng Fig! 3 it will e seen that the f filmed d ally wit of the grows ysssape through th passages or perfowebs '12, By reason of this construction one Web serves to reinforce the foundation mem her 1 along the line in which the groove 6 is formal, Noting Figs. 2, 3 and 6, it Will be seen that none of the passages 5 which enter the recess 7, is directly alined, Vertically, With the roove 6. By reason of this construction, when the tongue 9 moves transversely of the foundation member, in the recess "7, any material which may have acci denta'lly lodg in the reoess 7 will be swept along, in front of the tongue 9, to pass into one of the ssages 5, thus preventing a cl, ing of e recess 7.

at is claimed iS A foundation for osts, comprising a mem-- ber provided with upright, outstanding Webs; and having a post receiving passe e provided in its side wall with an uprigh t, outstanding groove, alined, radially of said member, with one of the webs; there being a transverse ire ess in the inner Wall of the passage, leading laterally from the groove, the recess communicating with an opening heated to one side of the groove, and extended through said member. i

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

' MARSHAL J. GREGORY. Witnesses:

JOHN Tunmaow, E. L. BnoKwrrH.

five cents uch by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, fl ng on, DIG." 

